Rotary tunneling-machine.



C. A. CASE. 7

ROTARY TUNNELING MACHINE,

APPLIUATIO'N FILED APB. 2o, 1908.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909,A

5 SHEETS-SHBET 1.,

` C. A. CASE. ROTARY TUNNELING-MAGINE. i APPLICATION FILED APR. 2 0, 1908.`

914,636, Patented Mar.9,

Q WHW/m45 y l Y' veu-fot as www A C. A. CASE.

' ROTARY` TUNES-LING. MAMEIINB.l

Y APPLIQTION FILED APR. 2U, 1908. 914,636.

Patented M3119, 1909. Y 5 SHEETS-SHEET s..

"ZMCLJ V o. A.` CASE ROTARY TUNNELING MACHINE.

'APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, '1908.

f Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 G. A. CASE.

ROTARY TUNNBLING MACHINE. v APPLIGATION FILED APR. 20,1908,

Patented Ma119, 1909.v

5 SHEETS*SHEBT 5.

- UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEiofE.A

CHARLES A. OASE, OF NW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CAS-TUNNEL & ENGINEERING'- 'COMPANY, OF NEW YORILAN. Y., A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.-

ROTARY' TUNNE-LIN G--MACHINE vNo. 914,636. l Specification of Letters Patent. Patented March 9, 1909.1

Application filed April 20, 1998. Serial No. 427,986. i

To all whomit may concern: f .l one of the ribs 24 'extends the lug 25. Ra- Be it known that I, CHARLES A. CASE, a dial arms 26 extend inwardly from the circitizen of the United States, anda resident cuinferential portions of the ring ends, and ofthe boroughof Manhattan, city, county, join with the inner secondary rectangular and State of New York, haveinvented cervframe 27. Lugs 28 extend from theverticalto tain newand useful Improvements inRotary Amembers of the frame 27 and the lug 29 ex Tunneling-h/Iachines, of which the following tends fromy the lower horizontal member is a s iecitication. theref. A rectangular tie 30 with theguide This invention relates to a rotary tunnel lug having the opening '56 connects the ing machine, and its object is the reduction lowerhorizontal members of the said frame 65. of an apparatus by means ef .which rock or 27, and the tee shaped tie 31-connects the lupother materials are disintegrated, by sud 'A per horizontal-members thereof. denly changing their temperatures and The radial arms 26 each comprise the four therebj)T blistering them on their surfaces, members 32 that are joined byl the shelf 33 and then scraping off. such portions ofthe and by the shelf 34. From eac of the latter 7'() materials that are not detached 'from the extend two pairs of posts 35, the upper ends i main portions thereof. A of which directly connect with cireumferen- A The invention `is particularly adapted for tial portions ofthe ring ends21. Each pair digging round ltunnels. of posts 35 constitute guides for brackets 36 he Vinvention is exemplified in this appli- A that have threaded stems S7 with' the nuts 75 cation in a machine which comprises essen- 38, by means of which they are clamped to A tially a rotating head, carrying torches for ,t theslielves 34. A pivot 39 is supported in heating Y the surface of the material to be eachl pair of brackets 36 and on each of which treate and Scrapers connected with 'the is journaled a guide roller 40. Journal breek-fV head.' Means are also provided to axially ets 41 are guided between the lower portions 80 advance the head of the machine while rotatot' the members 32 and have each extending' ing, andother means .to conduct a stream of from them threaded spindles 42 with nuts 43, water or other cooled fluid or air against the bynieans ,of which they are adjustably seifsurface of thematerial, and appurtenances cured tothe shelves, In the journa to remove the disintegrated material. brackets 41-are journal'ed the driving shafts- 85 Figure 1 representsa partial ,side view and 44 that have connected thereto the vdriving axial sectionof a tunneling machine exemrollers 46. Between the ring-ends 21`extend pl'rfying the invention in a tunnel, Fig. 2 the channel ties 50, and between the latter..

shows a right hand-end viewT of the machine are interposed the supports 51 and .52.

shown in Figl, Fig. Sis a section of Fig, 1 on From the vsupports 51 extend the journal' 90 the line 3, 3, Fig. i4 shows a section of 1 brackets 53, and a channel bracket 54A exon the line 4, 4, Fig. 5 represents an enlarged tends between the support 52 and the tie 31.

. artial section of Fig. 1 on the line 5, 5, Fig. 6 A counter shaft 'is journaled in the brackshows va partial to plan view of Fig. 1, Fig. -7 vets 53 and in a bearing. 61 `formed with the 40 represents an en view of the frame of the channel bracket 54. 95

. machine, Fig. 8 is a partial section of Fig. 4 n each of the shafts 44 is fastened a as on the line `8, 8,*Figl. 9 shows a partial sec A'sprocket chain wheel 65. A sprocket chain tion of Fig. 1 on the ine 9, 9,' Fig. 10 repre- 66 en ages each-of the wheels 65 and with'a sente a partial section of Fig.l 1 on the line 10, sproc et chain wheel 67 on the shaft 60.

10, Fig. 11 is a partial sectionof Fig. 10 on On the tee shaped tie 31 is locatedan elec- 10o the line 11, 11, Fig. 12 shows a top plan view tric'motor 68 having the e'lectreconductors of Fig. 11 Fig. 13 represents aparti l'axial 69 leading from the fuse box 70 supported on,

- section of amodification of the invention in athearrn 71 extending from thelug 25- of one tunnel, and Fig; 14 shows a partial section of of the end-rings 21. Electric .feed wares 721 13 on the hne14, 14.- lead to the fuse box 70 to which is connected 105 The invention comprises 'a supporting the switch 73. On' the armature shaft 75 of frame with ring ends 21 connected by the the motor 58 is fastened the pinion 76, the longitudinal ties 22..v Each ring-end is flatteeth of which mesh with thcfteeth ofA the tened at its lower portion 23 andK has a spur ear 77 secured tothe counter-1l att 60. flanged Irib 24 atits" upper portion. From Aqournal bracket 78 is supported'on'th'e V110 of the channel bracket 54. A gear 80 is=fas -30 thereto the collar 106 and a sprocket chain 35 latter bracket has the side lugs 111 for conp 50 through i e chain Wheel 142, and a sprocket chain 145 elaeeelI connects the latter wheel with the sprocket chain wheel 107. A conveyer conduit 146 for .the conveyor 141 is fastened at one end. of the arm' 110, and at theother end to the arm'128 of the frame'125. In,the'conduits 70 112 are located electric conductprs 150, tha't extend from the fuse box 70 to brush holders 151 supported on thev endstof the said conduits112. l w

A hollow rotating head with spherical 'l5-, crown 156, rear wall 157 having openings 1 58, cylindrical wall, 160 and sleeve 161 1s fastened to the driving druin' 105. In 4the crown 156 are formed openings 162 in which are supported the receptacles 163 of electric 80 torches, that comprise a pair ofA carbons 165 and their usual appurtenances. fFeed wires 166 bring current to said carbons and extend to metallic conductor rings 167 and 168. A hood 170 extends from the wall 157 and in- -85 sulated material 171 is interposed betweenl the metallic ring 167 and the inner surface of the hood 170. insulating material 172 is interposedr between the rings 167, 168, and insulating material 17 3 is interposed between 90 the drum 105 and the ring 168. Brushes 175 extend from the brush holders 151 and one thereof bears on the ring 16-7 and the other bears on the ring 168.

Regulating Scrapers 176 extend from the 95 crown 156 and prevent the ends of the carbons from sera ing on the face of the mate-` rial being treated and scraping off `portions thereof. They are held in place by the lock nuts 177. On the cylindrical portlon 160 of 100 the head are fastened the collecting Scrapers 180 which collect the hlistered material and bring-it inthe path of the conveyer casing 146. Springs 181 wit/h the shoes 182 extend from the cylindrical surface 160 of the 105 head to locate it central'bT in the tunnel. that is being dug.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, the invention is shownwith a modified head com )rising an annular crown 200, a cylindrical wall 201, rear 1 10 wall 202 and a sleeve 203. In the `crown 200 are secured the receptacles 204 of the electric torches with carbone 205, Scrapers 206 and 207 similar to 176 and 180 extend'froin the tee shaped tie 31, and in which is journaled a spmdle 79 that is also supportedin a bearing tened tothe spindle'7 9 and the teeth thereof 5 mesh with the teeth of the inion 81 on the counter shaft 60, with whic Ylatter it is engaged by means cfa s line 82. One member 83 of a clutch' extends from the lpinion 81.

l A shifting lever 84 is fulcrumed4 from a cross 10 tie 85 fastened to the channel ties 50. A pair of pins 86 ofthe lever 84 engagea groove of the member '83 of the clutch. On the s indle 79 is fastened a gear 90 the teeth-of w ch mesh with the teeth of agear 91 journaled on a pin extending from the channel bracket 54; The teeth of the latter gear meshwith the teeth of the gear 92 journaled on the coun ter shaft 60, from 'which latter ex tends' the clutch member 93 that engages `with the clutch member 88.

' On the s indle 79 is fastened a sprocket4 chain wheel) 96, with which is engaged a sprocket chain 97 that is led over guide sheaves 98 ournaled on the four shafts 44, and

said chain at its' lower end. engages with the sprocket chain Wheel 100, extending from the threaded sleeve 101 on the driving screw 102.

, A driving drum/105 is supported on the rollers 46 and at its rear end has fastened wheel 107 with the sleeve 108 extending l from the latter. Between the collar 106 and the sleeve 108 is interposed on the drum 105 the-*ring bracket 109 with the arm 110. The

duits 112, whichl are also supported in the lugs 28. The bracket 109 has the central boss 113 and the lower boss 114 in its arm 110. The back end of the driving screw 102 is fastened to the boss 113 by means of the collars 120 and 121', and the shank 122 of said screw is fastened to the frame 125 by means lof the collars 123. v The frame 125 comprises. the two upper converging members 126, the

central converging members '127 and the lower arm 1 28. At the junction ofthe members 126 .is formed a boss 129 with an open ing which supports one end o the water pipe 130, and heother end of the said pipe passes 'l-1p nings 131 in\the iianged ribs 24 -formed t' thel end rings 21. -A rubber tube"-3 js coupled to one end of the pipe 130, and aiozale 131 extends'from the other end of aid pipe. ""Bosses 135 with openings 535 are formed at the junctions of the members `126 and 127 of the frame 125 and in which are fastened the forward ends of the conduits: 112. A boss 136 with an 'opening extends from the "lower arm 128. One end of the conveyer shaft 140 having the spiral conveyer 141 is journaled in the boss 136 and 'the other end 'thereof is j ournaled in the boss 114 ofthe arm l Qn -the shaft 140 is fastened the sprocket tend from the cylindrical surface201 of the head. The sleeve 203 is fastened to the driving drum 209 that contains the detachable.core pipe 210. From the rear wall 202 lextends the hood 211 similar to 170, and b etween the latter land the said drum are located the insulating yrings 212, 213 and214. Metallic rings 215 and 216 are located between the insulating rings 212, 214 and 'have between them insulating rings 213. The 12 said metallic rings are engaged with'brushes 217 similar to 175., ,A frame 220 similar to is re resented with this modification, -as well as tlie conve er casing 221 with its appurtenances,simi arto 146.

crown 200, and springs 208 similar to 181 ex- 115 I y classe 3' To operate the invention and referring locatingthe spindles 37 oi the brackets 36 in specially to Figs. 1 'to 12, the'machine is proper operative positions.

located to bring the'. carbon points of the Referring particularly to Figs.' 13 and 14 torches, in close proximity to the surface of the material or tunnel to be operated .upon the frame With the. ring ends 21 being 'adjacent to the frame 125 and consequently tothe rotating head having the crown 156. The frame 21 is tightly held in position and 10 prevented from turning by causing the rollers 40 to bear with sufficient pressure against the sides of the tunnel. This is accomplished by locating the threaded stems v37 in the shelves 34 so that the said rollers40 -will tightly hug the -sides of the tunnel.` The switch 73 is closed to feed current to the motor 68,'Which drives the counter shaft 60. 1. In a machine the combination of means lto heat a material, means to chill said -mate- 67, chain 66 and the four sprocket chain rial, the resulting heating and 'chilling alter- '20 Wheels 65 rotates the shafts44, and thereby l, nating with each other and means to rasp and 85 the driving rollers 46, whichv latter rotate the scrape said material. driving drum 105 and thereby the rotating 2; In a machine the combination of rotahead. The countershaft 60 by means of the rtory'fliiiearfs'to'heat a material, means to chill .pinion 81, gear 80 on ,the spindle 79, sprocket said material, the resulting heating and chill'- 25 wheel 96 with sprocket-'chain 97, rotates the ing alternating with each other to blister'and 9o sprocket Wheel 100.v The latter by means f disintegrate said material. the threaded sleeve 101 axially moves t e' v In a machine the combination of rotadriving screw 102. The screw 102 being torymeans to heat a material, means to chill connected With the arm 110 of the ring said material, the resulting heating and chillbracket 109 extending from the driving ing alternating with each other, and rotatory 95 drum 10.5. axially moves thelatter andthe Scrapers to bear on said material.- Y

rotating head. With the axial movement 4. In a machine the combination of a 'roof the said driving'drum 105, the conveyer tating hefheating means carried on the .fcasing 146 with its conveyer, the frame 125 head, Scrapers on said head and cooling with. the brush holders 151, pipe A130 and" means-adjacent to the head.' 00

' 5. In a machine the combination of a ro- @other immediate a' purtena'nces are also tating head, heatingjmeans carried on theV head, Scrapers on' 'said head, cooling means axially moved If vt e rotating head is to b'e backed the clutch with the members 83 and l adjacent to the head, and means to axially move said head.

93, are locked, Whichfseparates the pinion 81' I[40 1from the ear 80, and by means oi the gears 6. In a machine the combination". of a rotating head', electric torches carried on the 90,91 an 92, the rotations of the spindle 79 .are reversed, which reverses the axial movehead, Scrapers on said head, cooling means adjacent to the head, means to axially' move ment ofthe driving screw 102 and Will consesaid head during its rotations, and means to 110 uently reverse the axial movement ot the -leed the electric torcheswith current.

7. In a machine the combination of a ro y said rotating head. During the rotations of tating head, torches on said head to heat a' the rotating head, a stream of Water or other material operated upon, Scrapers on the head cooled "fluid is forced through vthe pipe 130.I

Duringth rotation of the 'said rotating head springs extending from said ead to maintain -115 it in proper position With said material, 'cool-A the insula ed metallicrings 167, 168 are 1n l contacifwith the brushes 175 and thereby ing .means adjacent to said head and means electric current is brought through the conduc'tor's 150 to the Wires 166 of the electric torcheshaving the receptacles 163, by virtue to axially move said head with its appurte nances during the rotations thereoi1 f 8. In a machine the combination of a head, -121 of "which 'electric flames are produced between the points of the said carbons 165,

which Will heat the material acted, upon. electric't'orches on said head to heat a material operated upon, Scrapers on the head, cooling means adjacent to the head, a driving drum supporting the head, means to 'rotate his heating with the cooling, blisters the said material, and portions .Whlch are not the driving drum/.v frame extending rfrom- 12 rotating head With the annular crown 200 70 blisters a ring in the head of the tunnel, and leavesvacore of the material 230, which enters the' core pipe 210, and fromthe latter the core can easily-be removed, the said pipe 210 .being detachable `from the driving 7,5 drum 209. i L Itwill be noted that other heating means ma be substitutedfor the electric torches 'an' that 'various ty es of motors may be VHaving described my invention I claim:

disintegrated 'are scraped off with the Scrapers 176 and 180.' The disintegrated material is carried 4away by the conveyerin1v the casing 146.- The frame of' the machine is held tightly against the-Walls of the tunnel n' that is being dug, by means of the adjustable the drum, a second frame in connection with theiirst frame, metallicconductor'rin'gs car- 'ried on the drumandinsulated therefrom,

Wires connecting' with thel torches, y electric condpcfors. r11-ieri 'ontlast-mines and-1E rollers 40'Which bearagalnst said vWalls-by y of the modicationof the invention the used in place of thee ectric' motor. 80

brushes iii circuit With the latter conductors bearing on the metallic conductor rings.

Q. ln a tunneling machine the 'combinationo'l' a head, torches on said head to heat.

the material head, cooling driving drum encircling the in the frame, roll and' bearinff againstv the driving to rotate the lattei` shafts and drum with its appurtenances, a driving screw in the frames, a frame inconnection with each end of the driving screw, one of the latter frames connected withthe driving drum, a threaded sleeve on the driving screw `and axiall -bearing against the frame encircling the riving drum, and means to rotate the sleeve and thereby axially drive the screw with the driving drum.

, 10. In a tunneling machine the-combination of a head, electric torches on said headl to heat the'material operated u on, Scrapers on the head,A cooling means adJacent to the head, a dri-ving drum supportinv the head, a frame encircling-the drum, gui e rollers adoperated' upon, Scrapers on the means adjacent to the head, a supporting the head, a frame drum, driving slial'ts journaled ers on said shafts supporting drum, means thereby the justably sup orted on the frame, driving 'witlithe head, cai'bons shafts journa ed in the frame, rollcrson said shafts :su porting an driving rum, a motor supported on .the fname, means between the motor and the driving shafts to vrotate the latter, a ring frame supported on the drivin drum, asceond frame in connection with the ring frame, a driving screw with its ends fastened to the' latter two frames, a threaded' sleeve engaging said screw and axially bearing against the 'frame encircling the driving drum, means between the motor' and the sleeve to rotate the latter a'z'id alsoto reverse the said rotation, a pair of 'electric conduits carried on the ring frame and its accompanying frame, a pair of electric conductors in each conduit, a brush at one end of each pair pf electric conductors, insulated conductor rings connected up vin the torches and electric conductors between the carbons and the said rings.

.11; In a tunneling machine the combina tion of a head'with a spherical crown, torches extending from the crown of the head to heat tliematerial operated upon, regulating Scrapers extending from said crown to protect the ends of the torches, a pipe to conduct a cooling fluid against the said material, a driving drum supportingthe head, means to .rotate .the drum, means to axially move the drum, and a onveyer adjacent to the head.

12. In a`tunn eling machine the combination of ahead, torcl head to heat the material o erated lupon,

- regulating Scrapers extending from the head,

a pipe 'to' conduct ,a cooling fluid against the said material, a driving drum supporting the head, a supporting frame for-the said drum,

d bearing'against the ies, extending from the,

against the driving drum to the driving drum.

13. In. a tunneling machine the combination of ahead, torches extending from the head theat the material 'scra ersextending from the head, a pipe to con uct a cooling iluid against the said ma terial, a driving drum sup orting supporting `frame fortlie ruin, Iguide rollers pivoted in the 'frame to'bear againstthe sidesv of the tunnel th journaled in the supporting trame, ro lers on the latter 'shafts bearing against the driving drum, a counter-shaft journaled in the supportingfframe, means to rotate the countershaft, sprocket chain wheels on each of the driving shafts, asprocket chain Wheel on the counter-shaft, a sprocket chain connecting the' latter'chain wheel-with the chain wheels on the driving shafts, and means to axially move lthe driving drumf `from the rotations of the 14. In a tunnelin tion of .a head, toro head, Scrapers extending from the head, a` pipe for a cooling fluid adjacent to y a drivin -di'uliifsupporting the head, a supportino' name fort e`drum`, afmotor supporte in the'l frame, a countersh'aft :journaled in the raine,-eonnections-betweenthe motor and counter-shaft, driving rollers in vlthe supporting frame: bearing againstthe driving d'ru'm and driven by the 1countershaft, a driving screw connect-ed up with the l driving drum, a threaded sleevej engaging with the driving screw, the ends ol' the sleev .i bearing against the su porting frame, and 'connections between t e countershaft and the sleeve, to rotate the latter in Vtwo directions and thereby axially move the driving screw. I'

I 15. In a tunneling machine the combina- I tion-of a head, torches extending from the I head, Scrapers extendingironi the head, a

counter shaft.;

pipe for a cooling fluid adjacent to the head, a driving drum supporting the' head, a supporting 'frame `for the drum, a motor supported in the frame, a counterjshaft jouinaled in the iraine, connectionsv between the motor and counter shaft, a spindle pivotedon the supporting frame, gearing between the spindle and counter-shaft to rotate the formerl'rom the rotations of the latter, the rotations of the spindle, a driving screw connected up with driving drum, a sleeve on the screw with its end faces bearing against thesupporting frame, a sprocket chain wheel the inner ends A driving rollers on the latterrotate the same and means to axially move I operated upon,

at is being dug, drivin shafts in two directions means to reverse:

machine the combinan es extendingfrom the` the had,

l l v.the said drum,

.i ,onthe sleeve',- a @rocket wheel 4on folie L lspindle, and asproeket head, cooling means adjacent 4to thehead', a driving drum sup orbing the headfa lsupn .v porting frame for t ejdrurn, Ineansto rotate 16. ln a tunneling. machine' the eornlgirial` the drum with its head fand eans'to' axially A5 tionvof a head,- torches; on the head, 'Scrapers'- move ,thedrum'fl v on. theheadyeooling meansadjaeent to -the 18.1119. tunneling; machin head, 'afdriving'drum s u'pI oring the head ,tionfof lan sninl'-a'1fv Supporting frame for t e drum; la" from Athe-head, senape bra'eket supported-.on lche drum and exten `head, cooling'meansl 10 ing below thesjame, a'eonveyer conduie'sixpfi driving'druin ls up orlginglhehe'ad', a core portedby theibraoketra eon-vey'e'iF in said? ipe-fora cre of t einateral operated upon lconduit, a shaft for the eonveyer, a sp'roelst1l thel drum,l .wheel en the sha,v a s rocket wheel o'rrthe"v means ,to axially mo've'the drum.: .driving drum', aspro@ etv ychain c'onneetingg- 15 vthespr'oket chain wheels,

l means to rotateU-eouny l the drlvingdrumandrmeans Yto axially move ftliisfltli day o f ehameonneeting tne ltwo sprocket chain wheels.

'of New York'andState of New York April A; D. v19,08.-

, CHARLES Aj. CASE.'

175111 a i',unnelinl Iriaeliine' tlie eoinbina- Witneslse's: v tion of a'nannular. ead, torches'extending- M. H. COOK,

go'rorn the head, Scrapers extending from' t e MARTIN ZrMANsKY.

meansto rotate the drum,A and '"1 Signed at the borough of Manhattanl the 35 

